Shoulder pain is a common condition among teenagers and adults. The shoulder Is the most mobile joint in the body which leaves a lot of room for variability, error, imbalance and therefore PROBLEMS. Odds are you know someone who complains about shoulder pain. They can’t reach overhead, they can’t lift the weights they want or wake up at night whenever they roll onto their bad shoulder. This is reality for a lot of people but can typically be resolved with stretching, exercise and some love to those muscles. Check out our blog posts on shoulder impingement and the rotator cuff for more info on how these problems start. But we are here for the fun part….gift giving!
We created this guide to allow you to give the gift of healthy shoulders and pain relief.
1. Foam Roller- Foam rollers are a great way to self massage tight muscles and improve mobility. By rolling on the foam roller you can stretch and improve blood flow to muscles. Try rolling under your armpit or leaning back over it to stretch the mid and upper back. YouTube is great resources for how to ideas. They come in different sizes, a 36inch (the longest option) is slightly more versitile. Additionally a foam roller can be used for exercise. Download our foam roller shoulder exercise guide here
2. Massage Gun or Massage Gift-card- Tight muscles and myofascial can cause pain and limited movement of the shoulder and back. This can start a horrible pain cycle: They feel pain and stiffness- they don’t want to move because it hurts, they become tighter and stiffer- see the problem? A massage can be just what they need to break up the restrictions and improve blood flow.
3. Resistance Bands- Message is great for that first step in pain relief but exercise is crucial to change how the body is functioning and keep the pain away. Resistance bands are ideal for home work outs and take up minimal space. They are highly versatile and can provide significant resistance. Some come with an exercise idea list- or check out our free exercise download here for ideas. Some come with attachments to loop them over the door or around a table or pole. They are great not only for shoulder work outs but also full body strengthening.
4. Posture Correcter Trainer- This little thing attaches to their clothing or sticks right to their skin on the upper back. Whenever it senses a slouching or forward posture it will give a little vibration to remind them to sit up tall. It also connects to an app so they can see how much of their day they had upright posture and track your improvements over time.
5. Shoulder Ice/heating Pack- Both ice and heat can be soothing to a painful shoulder. It is typically best to heat before exercise and ice after. This pack is versatile and can be used for either. It Velcros around the body to ensure it stays in place and can allow someone to walk around even with it on! That is efficiency at its finest.
6. KT Tape- Watch basketball and see the players all taped up? That’s this stuff. Taping can be used for many things but can specifically be applied for pain relief, muscle support, postural cuing and improved blood flow. It comes in a variety of colors and patterns to bring some excitement into their day. KT Tape offers instructional videos on their website, as does Youtube, to properly put it on based on the symptoms they are experiencing. The tape will stay on for several days and can get wet in the shower.
7. Biofreeze or Arnicare- topical gels can provide significant pain relief. These gels are over the counter and can be used several times a day for immediate relief. There are many different options on the market with different benefits and ingredients.
Make up a festive gift basket or wrap them up and put them under the tree to help give your loved one the most useful gift of the season!
Need more gift ideas? Click here for a guide for those with hand pain or arthritis
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